First published 2023
Franco Fiorvante tends lemon groves on Baron Zito's Sicilian estate, dreaming of land he can call his own. The rigid class barriers of 19th century Sicily block his path, but Franco sees a chance when the Baron demands proof of his devotion. The Baron orders Franco to kidnap a young boy. Franco obeys, crossing a line that births the world's first Mafia family. Lawyer Gaetano Catalano belongs to the Beati Paoli, a secret society fighting Palermo's corruption. When Gaetano learns of the kidnapping, he makes finding the boy his mission. His search becomes an obsession that threatens everything he holds dear. The stolen child, Dante, grows up in an asylum without knowing his real name or family. He questions his own mind until he meets Lucia, a girl carrying her own wounds. Love grows between them, giving Dante the strength to hunt for his kidnapper and discover who he truly is.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Sicily, Palermo
Period: 19th Century
417 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: kidnapping